Fluid control valve



Jun 19, 1951 w RAY FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed Oct. 16, 1945 W 0 A M m L PW jhxzw,

attorney.

Patented June 19, 1951 FLUID CONTROL VALVE William A. Bay, NorthHollywood, Calii'., assignor to General Controls (30., Glendale, CaliL,a cor poration of California Application October 16, 1945, Serial No.622,525

.7 Claims. (Cl. 251-20) My present invention relates to fluid controlvalves and more particularly to those of the type wherein means, such asa solenoid operator, is provided for applying a sudden force to thevalve closure to move it out of engagement with its seat against thepressure of the fluid at the inlet of the valve. When the inlet pressureis relatively high, in order to effect opening of the valve without theexpenditure of an excessive amount of energy it is customary to pro videmeans for effecting a so-called impact action to initiate the openingmovement of the closure. In valves of the solenoid-operated type thereis for this purpose a lost-motion connection between the plunger and theclosure so 'that when the plunger is attracted it can travel a shortdistance before force is applied to the closure so that the kineticenergy of the plunger is effective to initiate the opening movementWhererpon, since the operating pressure differential is then reduced,the continued pull of the plunger is cap-able of effecting full-openingof the closure.

It is an object of the present invention to still further facilitateopening of a valve of the character described hereinabove, and Iaccomplish this object by providing means for reversing the generaldirection of flow of a portion of the fluid after it has passed thepartially-open closure so as to raise the fluid pressure at thedischarge side of the closure and thereby decrease the pressuredifferential across it.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for causing thefluid to flow past the partially-open closure substantially centrally ofthe port therebeyond, and means in the path of the discharged fluid fordirecting a portion of it back toward the side walls of the port.

For full understanding of the invention, and further appreciation of itsobjects and advantages, reference is to be had to the following.detailed description and accompany drawing, and to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional view of a valve embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view wherein the valveclosure is shown in partially-open position for the purpose ofindicating the path of the fluid in the valve port.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l Iindicates a valve casing having an inlet l2 and an outlet l3 separatedby a right-angled partition 14. In the horizontal portion of thepartition is a discharge port I5 which 2 is lined by a cylindricalsleeve or port-member IS, the reduced upper end of which constitutes avalve seat I]. Threadedly mounted in the hollow upper portion or neck l8of the valve casing is an electromagnetic solenoid operator generallyindicated at l9, this operator being of conventional construction andcomprising a plunger freely reciprocable in a guide sleeve.

2| around which is an energizing coil 22. The plunger 20 is, of course,of magnetic material, and is generally square in cross-section; thesection shown in the drawing being taken along a line through oppositesides of the square. Threaded in the hollow lower end of the plunger isa guide bushing 23 for a stem 24 which carries a conical closure 25biased by a compression spring 26 normally into engagement with thevalve seat ll. The stem 24 is freely slidable in the bushing 23 so thatwhen, upon energization of the solenoid, the plunger is attracted theclosure 25 remains seated until the head 21 of the stem 24 is engaged bythe top surface of bushing 23, whereupon a sudden lifting force orimpact is applied to the closure. If the pressure differential betweenthe inlet and outlet of the valve is not excessive in comparison withthe power of the solenoid, the closure is dislodged from its seat and,since the pressure differential across the closure is then somewhatreduced, continued upward movement of the plunger normally effects fullopening of the valve.

In order to efiect the full opening ofthe valve under higher fluidpressure conditions, means is provided adjacent the outlet end of theport l5 for increasing the fluid pressure in that port above its normalvalue when the closure is initially opened or cracked." This meanscomprises a stem 28 adjustably threaded in an opening, coaxial with theport 15, through a thickened cylindrical portion 29 of the bottom wallof the valve casing. Around the outer end portion of this stem is aconventional sealing means comprising packing 30 and a gland 3|; athreaded cap 32, encompassing the bottom of portion 29, serving as anadditional sealing means. In the top surface of the reduced upper endportion 33 of the stem 28 is an annular recess or concavity 34 (Fig. 2)

When, as is shown in Fig. 2, the closure 25 is brought to itspartially-open position (as under the effect of the plunger impact) thefluid stream tends to follow down the conical surface of the closure sothat its path is generally central of the port, as indicated by theflow-lines 35. Upon reaching the concavity 34 a portion of the stream isthereby directed backwardly, as indicated at 15, toward the side wallsof the port so that the fluid pressure in the port is substantiallyincreased and continued upward movement of the closure facilitated. Bythe improvement of the 5 present invention, I have found that theoperating pressure of an experimental valve, of the general constructionshown in the drawing, was increased approximately 20%. l

The specific embodiment of the invention herein shown and described isobviously susceptible of modification without departing from the spiritof the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1.;

1. In a fluid control valve: a casing having a port through which thefluid is discharged, flowcontrolling means at the inlet end of saidport, and a member mounted in said casing having a surface so positionedin the path of the discharged fluid as to direct a portion of the fluidback into said port to raise the pressure of the fluid therein when inthe opening movement of said flow-controlling means the same is inpartially-open position, the area and position of said surface relativeto the port being such as to have minimum eflect on flow through thevalve when the flow-controlling means is fully open.

2. In a fluid control valve: a casing having a port through which thefluid is discharged, flowcontrolling means at the inlet end of saidport, and a member mounted in said casing substantially axially of saidport adjacent the outlet end thereof and having a surface so positionedas to direct aportion of the discharged fluid back into the port so asto raise the pressure of the fluid therein when in the opening movementof saidflow-controlling means the same is in partiallyopen position, thearea and position of said surface relative to the port being such as tohave minimum effect on flow through the valve when the flow-controllingmeans is fully open.

3. In a fluid control valve: a casing having an elongated port throughwhich the fluid is discharged, a movable closure cooperable with theinlet end of said port to control the flow therethrough, saidclosurebeing so formed that when it is in a partially-open position thepath of the passing fluid is substantially central of the port, and amember mounted in said casing having a) a surface so positioned in saidfluid-path as to direct a portion of the fluid back toward the sidesofthe port when in the opening movement of said closure the same is insaid partially-open position, the area of said surface and its positionin said fluid-path being such as to have minimum effect on flow throughthe valve when the closure is fully open.

4. In a fluid control valve: a casing having an elongated port throughwhich the fluid is disso charged, a movable closure cooperable with theinlet end of said port to control the flow therethrough, said closurebeing so formed that when it is in a partially-open position the path ofthe passing fluid is substantially central of the port, 05 and a membermounted in said casing having an annular concavity concentric of theport, said concavity facing the port and being spaced outwardly from theoutlet end thereof for directing a portion of the fluid in said pathback toward [0 the sides of the port when in the opening movement ofsaid closure the same is in said partiallyopen position, the area ofsaid concavity and its position in said fluid-path being such as to have4 minimum effect on flow through the valve when the closure is fullyopen.

5. In a fluid control valve: a casing having an .elongated port throughwhich the fluid is discharged, a closure cooperable with the inlet endof said port and biased to closed position, said closure being arrangedfor movement along the axis of the port, means for app ing a suddenopening force to said closure, and means for facilitating full-openingof the closure comprising a member mounted in said casing and having asurface adjacent the outlet end of said port so positioned as to directa portion of the discharged fluid back into the port to raise thepressure of the fluid therein when in the opening movement of theclosure the same is in partiallyopen position, the area and position ofsaid surface relative to the port being such as to have minimum eflecton flow through the valve when the closure is fully open.

6. In a fluid control valve: a casing having an elongated port throughwhich the fluid is discharged, a closure cooperable with the inlet endof said port and biased to closed position, said closure being arrangedfor movement along the axisof the port, means for applying a suddenopening force to said closure, said closure being so formed that when itis in a partially-open position the path of the passing fluid issubstantially central of the port, and means for facilitatingfull-opening of the closure comprising a member mounted in said casinghaving a surface so positioned in said fluid-path as to direct a portionof the fluid back toward the sides of the port when in the openingmovement of said closure the same is in said partially-open position,the area of said surface and its position in said fluid-path being suchas to have minimum effect on flow through the valve when the closure isfully open.

7. In a fluid control valve: a casing having an elongated port throughwhich the fluid is discharged, a closure cooperable with the inlet endof said port and biased to closed position, said closure being arrangedfor movement along the axis of the port, means for app ying a suddenopening force to said closure, said closure being so formed that when itis in a partially-open position the path of the passing fluid issubstantially central of the port, and means for facilitatingfull-opening of the closure comprising a member mounted insaid casinghaving an annular concavity concentric of the port, said concavityfacing the port and being spaced outwardly from the outlet end thereoffor directing a portion of the fluid in said path back toward the sidesof the port when in the opening movement of said closure the same is insaid partially-open position, the area of said concavity and itsposition in said fluid-path being such as to have minimum effect on flowthrough the valve when the closure is fully open.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,542,570 Mueller June 16. 19252,111,232 Wetzel Mar. 15, 1938 2,269,865 Shaw Jan. 13, 1942 2,289,494Hadley July 14, 1942 2,327,449 Parker Aug. 24, 1943

